In recent times, Ireland has experienced a surge in its international student population because of the prospects and opportunities offered by the country. Ireland is a beautiful country and offers quality education, better job opportunities, and a high standard of living. It has some of the top universities in the World and many top-notch companies in the technology, agriculture, and pharmaceutical sectors. These companies provide numerous job opportunities for international students who come to study in Ireland. You can enjoy full rights and entitlements in the country by acquiring citizenship in Ireland. To settle in Ireland, you must get a permanent residence permit in Ireland. If you want to get permanent residence in Ireland from Pakistan, you must know the details about how to get Ireland’s permanent residency, its process, requirements, and benefits.
International students who want to get permanent residence in Ireland From Pakistan, after completing their education, can stay in Ireland on a post-study work visa. Once they complete a minimum of 5 years on a work visa, they can apply for PR in Ireland. In this article, we have provided all the necessary details you need to know about getting permanent residence in Ireland (Ireland PR).
What is an Ireland Residence Permit?
To obtain residence in Ireland, you must apply for a certificate of registration called an Ireland residency permit. It allows you to stay in Ireland for over 3 months or 90 days. This residence permit is like a short-term visa which will enable you to live in Ireland for a limited period. After living a few years on this IRP, you can apply for a Without Condition to Time permit also known as Ireland Permanent residency or citizenship. Irish permanent residency offers more freedom and security than a temporary residence permit.
Eligibility criteria for Ireland permanent residence
- You have lived in Ireland for at least five years
- You are of good moral character.
- You must have lived in Ireland on a student visa.
- You have an Irish residence permit.
- You are not an undue burden on the state.
- You have an employment permit and are employed at the time of application.
- You have not broken any conditions of your permissions in Ireland.
- You have lived in Ireland with work authorization with Stamp 1 or 4 on your passport.
Pathways to get Permanent Residence in Ireland From Pakistan
There are different pathways available to get Permanent Residence in Ireland. Some of them are given below:
- Employment Permit Path to Residency
- Family Member Path to Residency
- Immigrant Investor Program
These are different pathways to get PR in Ireland, people can choose the option best suited to their circumstances.
Employment Permit Path to Residency
Getting permanent residency in Ireland through an employment permit is one of the most sought-after pathways. It is one of the most convenient and flexible ways to get PR in Ireland. There are two types of Employment permits issued by the Irish government depending on your skills. These two types are
- General Employment Permit
- Critical Skills Employment Permit
General Employment Permit
This permit allows non-European Union citizens to work in Ireland for two years after receiving a valid job offer from an employer. Certain conditions are associated with a general employment permit that you must fulfill to be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Ireland. Some of the conditions are
- You must have an employment permit or work authorization
- You have been working and living in Ireland for at least 5 years
- You must be of good moral character
If you fulfill these conditions, you can apply for Ireland Permanent Residency. Check more details from Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Critical Skills Employment Permit
The Critical Skill Employment Permit is for those whose profession is listed under the highly skilled eligible occupation list. The Irish market is looking for professionals with the listed skills, making it easier to get tech-related jobs in Ireland, such as,
- Web development
- Web design
- Programming
Once they get their critical skills employment permit, they must meet certain requirements for PR in Ireland. Once they satisfy these requirements they can apply for Permanent residence in Ireland. These requirements are:
- The applicant must have a job offer for an eligible occupation
- The job offer should be valid for at least two years
- Their annual salary should not be less than €30,000
- The applicant must be of good moral character
A critical skills employment permit is the most popular among people who want to get permanent residence in Ireland because with this permit you can apply for Ireland PR just after 2 years of living and working in Ireland. It is the most time-efficient pathway to get PR in Ireland.
You must know that not all work permits in Ireland make you eligible to apply for Ireland PR. If you work on a working holiday visa, your work time in Ireland will not be counted towards residence.
Check more details from Critical Skills Employment Permit.
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program
In this program, people can get residency in Ireland by investing in the Irish economy. To get residency through this program, a person needs to invest a minimum of €1 million in the Irish economy. They can invest their money in different ways like investing in an
- Existing business
- Investment fund
- Enterprise
- Irish stock exchange
- Irish REIT
However, an Ireland Investor visa does not give Ireland permanent residency but they can continuously extend their residency permissions to legally stay in Ireland for an indefinite amount of time. This visa is also called an Ireland golden visa and you have to meet its requirements to get this visa. One of its requirements includes proof of minimum investment depending on the type of investment.
For students who want to get Permanent Residence in Ireland from Pakistan
The pathway for students to get PR in Ireland is also the employment permit pathway, but they must complete their education first in Ireland. (Read our guide about Ireland study visa)
We have provided the details about the process to get Permanent residency in Ireland for international students. Here are the steps to follow:
- The first step is to get admission to one of the recognized institutes in Ireland and apply for an Ireland study visa. There are two types of Ireland student visas depending on their duration; C study visa (short-term visa) and D study visa (long-term visa).
- After completing your education, the next step is to apply for a post-study work permit. You can either get a general employment permit or a critical skills employment permit depending on your occupation and skills.
- The Irish employment permits are valid for a limited duration but they are extendable up to 3 years. So, apply for a work permit extension.
- Once you have stayed in Ireland for 5 years, you can apply for permanent residence in Ireland.
Family Member Path to Permanent Residence in Ireland from Pakistan
Another pathway to get Ireland PR is through being a family member or spouse of an Irish permanent residence holder. If you come to Ireland as a dependent of a person who holds permanent residency in Ireland, then you can apply for your PR permit after spending at least five years in Ireland. Besides being a dependent, you must also fulfill other conditions required to apply for Ireland permanent residency. Those conditions are
- At the time of submitting your application, your family member must have their permanent residency on a stamp 4. If your sponsoring family member’s permanent residency application is still in process, then you will not be able to apply for your PR permit.
- To be eligible to apply for PR, you must prove that you have been granted stamp 1 or stamp 3.
Even after you are granted PR in Ireland as a dependent, you need to get an employment permit to work in the country.
The permitted family members list includes:
- Your partner (spouse)
- Any relative who needs your care because of illness or disability (like grandparents, grandchildren)
- Any relative who is part of your household that is not a qualifying family member
Required Documents to apply for Ireland Permanent Residence
- Your complete application form
- Colour copy of your passport or IRP cards showing all your immigration stamps
- A copy of your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) or GNIB Card
- Copy of your detailed work or employment permits
- Proof of continuously residing in Ireland (bank statements, tenancy agreements, state-issued documents, etc.)
How to Apply for Ireland Permanent Residence from Pakistan
The process to apply for an Ireland residence permit can be complex and tiring and may exhaust you a bit. So, it is advised to hire an Ireland immigration consultant who can help you throughout the process and make it easy for you. A good immigration consultant increases your chances of success and decreases the chances of making a mistake as they are well aware of the details of this process and can help you achieve your dream of Ireland PR.
Fill out your application form
In your application for Ireland PR, you must provide your personal as well as contact details and any other information supporting your claim for residency in Ireland. It is important to fill out the application carefully to avoid any mistakes that may result in a delay in processing or rejection of your application.
Submit an Application
The next step of the application process is to submit your complete application via mail to the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service’s (INIS) Long-Term Residency Division.
Submit the required documents
Along with the application, you must submit your supporting documents like your passport, work permit, and other proof of identity. Immigration officials at INIS will determine your eligibility for Irish residency based on your documents at the time of application submission.
Wait for your application to get processed.
If your application is found to be eligible, it will then be processed. Applicants whose application is approved will be sent a letter of approval from INIS. Then, you will have to pay the Ireland Permanent Residence Permit Fee within 28 days of receiving your decision. This fee can be paid through your bank or by mail.
Visit to GNIB
Once your application is approved and your fee is paid, you will receive a letter of confirmation for Long Term Residency in Ireland on Stamp 4. On visiting GNIB, you will be issued the immigration Stamp 4 which will allow you to stay in Ireland for up to 5 years.
Processing Times
The processing time for an Irish Permanent Residency application is around six to eight months. However, some applications may take longer, depending on their circumstances.
Cost and Fees
The fee for the Irish permanent residency application is €500. There can be other costs and fees while applying for residency like fees for services such as certified translation of required documents.
Conclusion
Ireland is one of the popular destinations among international students, especially for those who want to seek permanent residence in Ireland. Ireland has a lot to offer in terms of quality education, living standards, job opportunities, and healthcare. To stay in Ireland, you must get an Ireland permanent residence permit. Ireland has a very convenient immigration pathway for skilled people and offers several ways to get PR in Ireland. One of the most attractive pathways for Ireland PR is through employment permits, which can be used by job seekers as well as international students currently studying in Ireland. Besides employment permit pathways, dependent pathways and investment pathways are also available to get Permanent residency in Ireland. However, the process of getting Ireland PR can be complex and time-consuming. An expert and professional Ireland immigration consultant like an HSA consultant can guide you through each step and help you succeed.
